Binding in working memory: Exploring the internal focus of attention
Lead Research Organisation:
Bournemouth University
Department Name: Sch of Design Engineering and Computing
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jane Elsley (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Elsley JV
(2015)
The asymmetry and temporal dynamics of incidental letter-location bindings in working memory.
in Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)
| Description | This project examined the representational format and retrieval of visual objects and their features from visual working memory. The project drew on a proposed analogy between the spotlight of visual attention (studied in the visual selective attention literature) and a single-item focus of attention hypothesised in memory that selects stored information for further processing. We investigated four main themes: (1) Does the focus of attention select from features or objects? (2) Is the focus of attention sensitive to the spatial distance between to-be-retrieved features? (3) Is the focus of attention sensitive to the temporal distance between to-be-retrieved features? (4) Of these two means of structuring information (spatial and temporal), which is the most dominant? A series of behavioural studies used adaptations of a change-detection task (Prabhakaran et al., 2000) where participants were asked to remember the colour and shape of coloured shape objects presented on screen, then judge whether the features of a test probe (a coloured shape) had been presented to them, regardless of their original combination in the memory display. Critically, in cases where features were re-combined from separate objects to form the probe, we manipulated 1) the spatial distance between the objects they were sampled from; 2) the temporal distance between the objects they were sampled from; or 3) both spatial and temporal distance. Our results indicated that performance was superior when to-be-retrieved features were initially presented as part of the same object relative to where they were sampled from distinct objects, suggesting the selection of bound objects rather than individual features. Furthermore, increasing the spatial distance between the objects that features were sampled from negatively influenced retrieval performance (demonstrating a 'spatial distance effect'), a finding compatible with a single-item focus of attention scanning a memory representation preserving the metric spatial relations between objects, echoing earlier imagery work (Kossyln et al., 1978) in a task where spatial location was never task-relevant. We then explored the possibility of a 'temporal distance effect' when coloured shape objects were presented sequentially in a central location. While we found evidence for surface-feature binding there was no additional performance cost associated with retrieving temporally distant relative to temporally proximal object features, suggesting that the focus of attention does not, by default, re-enact the order of encoding during retrieval. Finally, when spatial and temporal distance manipulations were combined in a single experiment we again failed to find evidence for a temporal distance effect, but here the spatial distance effect was absent too. This suggests that presenting objects sequentially reduced the possibility of forming a spatial configuration of items to be scanned by the focus of attention. Additionally, we examined whether surface-feature bindings are supported by attentional resources. Drawing on one point of difference between existing studies (stimulus presentation time), we found a significant detrimental impact of attentional load on surface-feature binding when the exposure duration was long (2000ms) that was absent when the exposure duration it was short (250ms). This suggests that different binding mechanisms may be evoked based on the time allowed during stimuli encoding. |
| Exploitation Route | The impact of this work is primarily theoretical (commensurate with the fundamental/theoretical scope of the project), however there are some practical benefits that can be derived from our work in terms of paradigm design. For example, the design of stimulus arrays in simple change-detection tasks often used in memory research should consider the 'spatial distance effect' in order to ensure stimuli are configured in such a way that it does not serve as a potential confound. |
| Sectors | Other |
| URL | http://www.featurebindinglab.org |
| Description | Commensurate with the fundamental/theoretical nature of the project, this work has had predominantly scientific impact, providing knowledge regarding the representation and retrieval of objects and features from working memory. As a starting point to achieving societal impact, however, the objectives of this project and their relevance to those in clinical and educational sectors were presented to these users (and the general public) at Psychology at BU (May, 2010); an event held to showcase developments in psychological research and consultancy at Bournemouth University. We have also developed a website (www.featurebindinglab.org) detailing our findings and associated outputs. We are currently extending our program of research to include the study of memory processes in cognitive ageing - a line of investigation that has potential future impact. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Other |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Santander Travel Scholarship (to visit grant collaborators at the UiB, Palma, Spain). |
| Amount | £890 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Santander Bank |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 05/2012 |
| End | 06/2012 |
| Description | International collaborators on this grant were Dr. Fabrice Parmentier (UiB) and Prof. Murray Maybery (UWA) |
| Organisation | University of Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr. Fabrice Parmentier and Prof. Murray Maybery were both International (no cost) collaborators on this project. They contributed through discussion of experimental design and comments on manuscript drafts, while I served as PI on the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to: Experimental design, manuscript drafts. |
| Impact | Outputs relating to this grant (and these collaborators specifically) are listed below: Papers: Elsley, J. V., & Parmentier, F. B. R. (in press). The asymmetry and temporal dynamics of incidental letter-location bindings in working memory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. Conference Talks: Elsley, J. V., Parmentier, F. B. R., Maybery, M. T., & Udale, R. C. (2012). The retrieval of features and objects from visual working memory as a function of their spatial proximity. Invited symposium talk presented at the Annual BPS Cognitive Section Conference, Glasgow, 29-31 August. Elsley, J. V., Parmentier, F. B. R., Maybery, M. T., & Udale R. C. (2011). Exploring binding in working memory: Feature retrieval as a function of object proximity. Talk presented at the 28th Annual BPS Cognitive Section Conference: Keele, 6 - 8 September. Elsley, J. V., & Parmentier, F. B. R. (2011). Exploring the role of attention in binding in working memory. Talk presented at the 5th International Conference on Memory: York, 31 July - 5 August. Conference Posters: Elsley, J. V., & Parmentier, F. B. R. (2014). Exploring the symmetry and temporal dynamics of verbal-spatial bindings in working memory. Poster presented at the International Conference on Working Memory, Cambridge, UK. 9th-11th July. Elsley, J. V., Parmentier, F. B. R., Maybery, M. T., & Udale, R. C. (2012). Investigating the role of spatial location in surface-feature binding: The retrieval of features and objects as a function of their spatial proximity. Annual Conference of the Vision Sciences Society, Naples, FL, USA. 11th-16th May. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | International collaborators on this grant were Dr. Fabrice Parmentier (UiB) and Prof. Murray Maybery (UWA) |
| Organisation | University of the Balearic Islands |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr. Fabrice Parmentier and Prof. Murray Maybery were both International (no cost) collaborators on this project. They contributed through discussion of experimental design and comments on manuscript drafts, while I served as PI on the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to: Experimental design, manuscript drafts. |
| Impact | Outputs relating to this grant (and these collaborators specifically) are listed below: Papers: Elsley, J. V., & Parmentier, F. B. R. (in press). The asymmetry and temporal dynamics of incidental letter-location bindings in working memory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. Conference Talks: Elsley, J. V., Parmentier, F. B. R., Maybery, M. T., & Udale, R. C. (2012). The retrieval of features and objects from visual working memory as a function of their spatial proximity. Invited symposium talk presented at the Annual BPS Cognitive Section Conference, Glasgow, 29-31 August. Elsley, J. V., Parmentier, F. B. R., Maybery, M. T., & Udale R. C. (2011). Exploring binding in working memory: Feature retrieval as a function of object proximity. Talk presented at the 28th Annual BPS Cognitive Section Conference: Keele, 6 - 8 September. Elsley, J. V., & Parmentier, F. B. R. (2011). Exploring the role of attention in binding in working memory. Talk presented at the 5th International Conference on Memory: York, 31 July - 5 August. Conference Posters: Elsley, J. V., & Parmentier, F. B. R. (2014). Exploring the symmetry and temporal dynamics of verbal-spatial bindings in working memory. Poster presented at the International Conference on Working Memory, Cambridge, UK. 9th-11th July. Elsley, J. V., Parmentier, F. B. R., Maybery, M. T., & Udale, R. C. (2012). Investigating the role of spatial location in surface-feature binding: The retrieval of features and objects as a function of their spatial proximity. Annual Conference of the Vision Sciences Society, Naples, FL, USA. 11th-16th May. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Elsley, J. V. (2010). Memory - how do we attend to and combine information? Talk presented at: Psychology at BU - Celebrating Science and Practice in Psychology. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | This event was designed to draw attention to psychological research at Bournemouth University to users outside of academia (potential participants, user groups and generally interested parties). Participant recruitment. Knowledge exchange. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Elsley, J. V. et al. (2012). Investigating the role of spatial location in surface-feature binding: The retrieval of features and objects as a function of their spatial proximity. Annual Conference of the Vision Sciences Society, Naples, FL, USA. 11-16th. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | poster presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Poster sparked discussion about the research. NA. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Elsley, J. V., and Parmentier, F. B. R. (2011). Exploring the role of attention in binding in working memory. Talk presented at the 5th International Conference on Memory: York, 31 July - 5 August. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Talk sparked discussion and facilitated networking. NA |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Elsley, J. V., and Parmentier, F. B. R. (2014). Exploring the symmetry and temporal dynamics of verbal-spatial bindings in working memory. International Conference on Working Memory, Cambridge, UK. 9th-11th July. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | poster presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This presentation sparked discussion with fellow researchers in the field in addition to providing a good networking opportunity. NA |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Elsley, J., Parmentier, F., Maybery, M., and Udale R. (2011). Exploring binding in working memory: Feature retrieval as a function of object proximity. Talk presented at the 28th Annual BPS Cognitive Section Conference: Keele, 6 - 8 September |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Talk facilitated further discussions and networking. NA |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Elsley, J., Parmentier, F., Maybery, M., and Udale, R. (2012). The retrieval of features and objects from visual working memory as a function of their spatial proximity. Annual BPS Cognitive Section Conference, Glasgow, 29-31 August. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Facilitated discussion and networking. NA |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |